Boiler cleaner



Jan..l7, 1933. c, v u 1,894,299

Y BOILER CLEANER Griginal Filed July 29, 1'92]. 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7 1 @9 v 4 Q,%Z I2. 7 I v INVENTOVR ATTORNEYS Jan. 17, 1933. c, N M 1,894,299

BOILER CLEANER Original Filed July 29, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 17, 1933 .UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE C. VENNUM, Oi WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOB- TO DIAMOND POWER SPECIALTY CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN 301mm. CLEANER original application fled July 29, 1921, Serial No. 488,454. Divided and this application filed April 10,

1929. Serial No. 354,078.

This invention relates to boiler cleaners and has particular reference to a cleaner of the t pe in which a tubular member s provideri with a plurality of dischar e nozzles for discharging jets of cleaning u1d ad acent the arts of the boiler to be cleaned.

An ob ect of this invention is toprovide a construction of this character in which the tubular member is mounted for movement relative to the source of cleaning fluid supply and relative to its actuating means to compensate for variations in the position of the member due to warping or the like.

In particular, the present invention contemplates the provision of a flexible connection permitting an independent movement of the cleaner tube and contemplates the provision of a connection of this character, which will be sim le in construction and yet thoroug hly efliclent in operation.

his application is a division of my copending application, Serial Number 488,454, filed July 29, 1921.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more a parent as the followin description procee s, particularly when re erence 1s had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic fragmentary sectional view through a steam boiler showing a cleaner constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention applied to the same;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of a portion of the cleaner shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the cleaner shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3; I

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 3 illustrating the valve in open position and Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the valve in closed position.

Referring now particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout all views, there is illustrated in Figure 1 a boiler 10 having the wall -11 and the tubes 12. Projecting t rough an opening 13 in the wall 11 element includes a tube 22 which extends 7 through, andv is journaled in bearings in the rear wall of the head and in a vertical partition 24 within this head. The tube 22 is connected with the element through a flexible coupling 26 which comprises a'flexible sleeve having a flange on one end which is clamped between a flange 28 formed on the rear end of the tube 22 and a clamping collar 30 which is secured to the flange 28 by bolts 32. The other end of the flexible sleeve is provided with a flange that is clamped between a flanged collar 34 secured on the cleaner element, and a clamping collar 36 which is secured to the flange collar 34 by bolts 38.

This flexible coupling forms a substantially universal connection between the rigidly mounted head and the blower element and be tween the blower element and the blower element actuating means arranged within the head, thus it permits the blower element to gages a pinion 42 journaled on a stud shaft 44 secured to the rear wall of the junction box. The gear 40 and pinion 42 are adapted to be alternatively engaged by an internal gear segment 46, formed on a gear wheel 48, which is arranged eccentrically of the tube and journaled on a collar or flange 50, projecting from the partition 24.

The internal gear segment 4.6 as shown, extends slightly less than half way around the ear wheel 48. With this construction it w1ll be apparent that during one revolution of the gear wheel 48, the gear segment 46 will first engage the pinion 44 to rotate the gear element a part of one revolution in one direction and then disengage from the pinion 42 and engage the gear to rotate the cleaner element a part ofone revolution in the opposite direction to its initial position. Although the driving arrangement, as shown, effects an oscillation of the blower element, it will be readily apparent that the blower element might be mounted for continuous rotation in one direction if desired.

In the construction illustrated, however, the gear wheel 48 is driven through speed reducing gearing by an electric motor 52, mounted on the outside of the junction box. This gearing includes a pinion 54 earned by a shaft 56'which extends through and is journaled in bearings in opposite walls of the junction box. A car 58 is secured to the forward end of the s aft 56, which gear engages a pinion 60 carried by a shaft 62 having one end journaled in a earmg 1n a wall of the junction box and its other end projecting througha bearing in a bracket 64. A

worm wheel 66 is secured to the projecting end of the shaft 62 and engages a worm 68 carried by the shaft of the motor 52.

Cleaning fluid is supplied to the blower element 16 from a supply pipe 69, which opens into a chamber 70 formed in the head by the partition 24. A valve 72 is provided for controlling communication between the blower element 14 and the chamber 70, which valve closes communication between the element and the cleaning fluid supply pipe when the element is at rest and opens communication between the element and the pipe when the element is oscillated.

This valve is formed on the lower end of a depending lever 74, pivoted as at 76 on a segmental arm 78, formed on the forward end of the tube 22 having its upper end forked. When the cleaner element is at rest, the valve is held closed as shown in Figure 6 by the engagement of the forked end of the valve lever with a pin 80 projecting inwardly from the forward wall of the junction box. At the start, however, of an-oscillating movement of the cleaner element, a prong 82 of the forked end of the valve lever by engagement with the stop pin 80, swings the lever in the direction to open the .valve and the valve is held open by gravity during the remaining portion of the oscillating movement of the tube 22. This movement ofthe valve lever is limited by the engagement of the valve end thereof, with a stop pin 84 carried by the segmental arm 78.

Near the 7 end of the return movement of the cleaner element, a prong 86 on the forked end of the valve lever 74 engages the pin 80 valve. The valve is in the form of a disk and I is of slightly greater diameter than the axial bore of the tube 22. It will be apparent that because of the difference in leverage between the forked end and the valve end of the valve lever 74, the valve will be openedand closed quickly so that there will be very little loss of steam, and yet because of the circular shape of the valve and valve opening, the start of the opening of the valve will be comparatively gradual which enables the steam to fill the cleaner element before the valve is opened wide, so that there is no danger of the admission of steam to the cleaner element causing injury to parts of the apparatus.

I In operation, an oscillating movement is imparted to the blower element 14 by the gear 48 which is continuously rotated in one direction from the motor 52 by the pinion 54 and associated gearing. During oscillation of the blower element the valve 72 is opened and cleaning fluid is supplied to the element from the supply pipe 69 through the chamber and the tube 22.

The flexible connection 26 permits a movement of the blower element relative to its rotating means and relative also to thehead. This connection, therefore, compensates for the warping or expansion of the blower element from the heat of the boiler furnace and permits a movement of the blower elementwithout causing a binding of the valve construction or a binding of the blower element itself within. the head. Thus despite the movement of the blower element due to expansion or warping the positions of the tube 22 and valve 72 remain the same so that the mechanism functions efliciently regardless of displacement of the blower element.

The invention has, for the purpose of il lustration, been described as a boiler cleaner adapted to clean parts of a boiler. It will be apparent, however, that the invention will find equal utility in cleaning any similar apparatus and it is to be therefore understood that the term boiler wherever used in the specification or claims is to be construed as meaning a heat transfer apparatus or fluid ous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The right is therefore reserved to make such changes in. the construction as will fall within the purview of theattached claims.

What I claim as my invention is: 1. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a boiler wall and a blower pipe extending transversely through said wall, said blower pipe being provided with a nozzle for discharging a cleaning fluid adjacent a surface to be cleaned, of a blower head mounting the blower pipe, means for turning said blower pipe about its longitudinal axis to direct the nozzle toward different portions of the boiler to be cleaned, and means affording a yielding connection between said blower pipe and said blower head, said last mentioned means including a flexible connecting member.

' 2. In a boiler cleaner, a blower head, a cleaner element,-means for moving said element relative to the blower head, and a flexible corrugated connection between said ele ment and said head permittingrelative universal movement.

3. In a boiler cleaner, a blower element, a blower head, .a tubular member ournaled in said head, means associated with said head for moving said tubular member, and a yieldable connection between said tubular member and said blower element.

4c. In a boiler cleaner, a blower head, a tube journaled in said head, a cleaner element, and a connection between said tube and said cleaner element permitting relative movement of said tube and cleaner element in parallel planes. 5. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower element projecting through an opening in a boiler wall for directing jets of cleaning fluid adjacent portions of the boiler to be cleaned, and a blower head mounted exteriorly of said boiler wall and having an axis normally aligned with the axis of said blower element for supplying cleaning fluid to the same,

. of a flexible connection between the blower element and the said blower head providing for relative movement between the blower element and blower head to positions where the said axes are out of alignment with respect to each other.

6. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower element projecting through an opening in a boiler wall for directing jets of cleaning fluid adjacent portions of a boiler to be cleaned, and a blower head arranged exterior-' ment of said blower element longitudinally relative to said blower head.

7. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower element, a blower head for supplying cleaning fluid to said blower element, and

means associated with said head for moving said blower element, of a flexible connection between said blower element and said blower head providing for substantially universal movement of said blower element with respect to said blower head.

8. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a rotatable blower element, a head forsupplying cleaning fluid to said blower element, and means associated with said head for rotating said blower element, of means providing for substantially universal movement between said blower element and said blower head, said means including a flexible driving connection between said rotating means and said blower element.

9. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a rotatable blower element, and a blower head normally aligned with the blower element for supplying cleaning fluid to the same, ofa flexible connection between said blower head and said blower element providing for dis'align ment of the axes of the blower element and sis ml movement of said blower element with respect to said blower head.

10. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a rotatable blower element, and a member having an axis normally al gned with the axis of said blower element for rotating the same, of a flexible tubular member connecting said member to said blower element and providing for relative movement between said blower element and said member to positions where the said axes are out of alignment with each other.

11. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a movable blower element, and a member having an axis normally aligned with the axis of saidblower element for moving the same, of a flexible tubular member providing a driving connection between said member and said blower element to provide for movement of the axis of said blower element out of alignment with the said axis of said member, said flexible tubular member being adapted to be distorted to provide for longitudinal movement of said blower element with respect to said member.

12. In a boiler cleaner, a blower head, a

tube journaled in said head, a cleaner element, and a flexible tubularmember providing a connection between said tube and cleaner element, said flexible tubular member being adapted to be distorted to provide for longitudinal movement of said cleaner elementwith respect to said tube.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE G. VENNUM. 

